The American Civil War ― Role of Southern Baptist Chaplains and Missionaries

Organized religion has played a significant role in warfare throughout history. From the time Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt into the new Promised Land until 2001 and the undertaking of the Global War on Terrorism, religion in one form or fashion has impacted the individual soldier. The United States’ Civil War from 1861 to 1865 was no different. The purpose of this thesis is to look at the events leading up to the Civil War and the conflict itself from the viewpoint of the Southern Baptist denomination. Specifically, the thesis focuses on the reasons for the creation of the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as examines how the denomination supported the war effort. It looksat the wide range of individual contributions of the denomination’s chaplains,missionaries, evangelists and colporteurs. It also details how important the use of religious tracts were in ministering to soldiers. As we continue our Global War on Terrorism, the information contained within this paper should serve as a reminder to those men and women at the Southern Baptist Seminaries that religious service to the army is still necessary and that it comes in many forms. As far as the human dimension and the spiritual fitness of soldiers are concerned, what worked in 1863 is still applicable in 2003.